Cylinder generating machine and method of generation



April 18, 1961 J. H. PRICE 2,979,798

CYLINDER GENERATING MACHINE AND METHOD OF GENERATION Filed Sept. 16, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J0me; Pr/ce N INVENTOR ATTORNEY April 18, 1961 J. H. PRICE 2,979,798

CYLINDER GENERATING MACHINE AND METHOD OF GENERATION Filed Sept. 16, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L/ames P/v'c e INVENTOR.

MLM

April 1961 J. H. PRICE 2,979,798

CYLINDER GENERATING MACHINE AND METHOD OF GENERATION Filed Sept. 16, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 dame.) H. Pr/ce INV EN TOR.

United States Patent CYLINDER GENERATING MACHINE AND METHOD OF GENERATION 7 James H. Price, 6711 Sylvan Road, Houston, Tex.

Filed Sept. 16, 1957, Ser. No. 684,107

6 Claims. (Cl. 25-1) This invention relates to a machine adapted to be rotated to automatically generate concrete cylinders and the like within a reinforcing frame therefor.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a machine adapted automatically to generate such a cylinder above a base first poured by conventional means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ma chine of this class adapted automatically to generate such a cylinder in a manner to take advantage of a pre-erected reinforcing frame therefor. 1

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine adapted automatically to generate such a cylinder while at the same time placing a spiral of reinforcing rod in the generated cylinder.

It is also another object of this invention to provide a machine of this class that is adapted to smooth the inner surface of the generated cylinder.

It is also a further object of this invention to provide a machine of this class adapted to receive concrete from avstationary source and deliver it through a rotatable source. It is yet another and further object of this invention to provide such a cylinder generating machine which may construct cylinders of reinforced, pressurized gunnite, or optionally of conventional concrete,

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification herein is considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, part in section, showing a concrete cylinder generating machine embodying the invention in process of generating a concrete cylinder as determined by the forms employed by the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cylinder form taken along line 22 of Fig. l;

' Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the machine:

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through the center of the machine; 7

l Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation through the upper part of the machine; t

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan Fig. 5; I r

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation showing details of form arrangement; and

Fig. 8 is a plan View taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7. 1 Referring in detail to the drawings, in which like referview taken along line 6-6 of ence numerals are employed to represent correspondingelements in the various views, a concrete cylinder generating machine 10 is shown generally inIFig. 1 in process ofgenerating a concrete cylinder. 11 within the defining limits of a form asser'nbly12, in a mannerto lay a spiral 14.0f reinforcing rod or wire within the concrete cylinder 11;, r 7 5 .2 At. outset a circular concrete slab 15 has been poured by conventional method and equipment, but in a manner that the upper part thereofis of slightly reduced diameter, thereby providing a shoulder 16 to serve as the annular seating surface for the 'cylinderll t o' seat thereon. as

latengener'ated." The-base of the slab '15'thti's defines 2,979,798 Patented Apr. 18, 1961 2 V the cylindrical surface against which the lower ends of form segments 17 are brought to hear, such segments subtending selected arcs about the circumference of the base 15, as arcs of 30 as shown in Fig. 2.

As best'shown in Figs. 7 and 8, reinforcing rods 18 are provided in the slab 15 having upwardly turned ends which extend upwardly through the shoulder 16, such rods being spaced to arise circumferentially around the slab at predetermined'arcuate distances apart. On top of each form segment 17 an arcuate ring 19 is provided of substantially Z-shaped cross-section, and atfixed thereto by bolts 21. Slots 19 are provided in the rings 19 with design of spacing to be located above the upstanding ends of the reinforcing rods 18. Then vertical reinforcing rods 20 are placed with heads in the slots 19' and the bottoms thereof welded at 20' to the upstanding ends of the reinforcing rods 18, whereby vertical reinforcement is provided for each segment. Vertically extending flanges 22 are provided on the side edges of each segment 17, so that the adjacent segments 17 may be joined together by vertically spaced apart, conventional connecting 'bolts and nuts 22 thereby to form an assembly 12 of desired inner diameter, and with proper vertical reinforcement.

When the slab 15 is ready to be poured, an inverted cap 'or bearing base 23 is provided, having an opening 24 therein of non-circular cross-section, and such base is placed at the center of the'slab space and the slab is poured therearo'und. A post 25 having an end 25' of noncircular cross-section is provided to fit into the opening 24.to serve as the axis of the concrete cylinder generating machine 10 to be hereinbelow described. As shown in Fig. 4, a keyway 26 is provided in the post 25 to extend from the base'26 thereof upwardly to a point near the top of the post. A gear 27 having a key 28 inside its hub is mounted on the post 25 to slide up and down the post as keyed thereto by the key 28 in the keyway 26.

The upper end of the gear hub is turned down at 29 and the inner race of a ball bearing assembly 30 is pressed thereon as shown in Fig. 4. A cylinder 31 having internally recessed endsis provided to serve as the hub of the machine 10 and such cylinder is installed with its lower end pressed upon the outer race of the ball bearing assembly 30. A similar ball bearing assembly 30' has its outer race pressed into the upper end of such cylin} der 31 and a sleeve 32 is provided having a turned down lower end 33 which is pressed into the inner race of the ball bearing assembly 30, such sleeve receiving the post 25 through the bore thereof.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the machine 10 includes a bridge 34 which includes a table 44 connected inwardly to the sleeve 31 and extending outwardly therefrom. Arms 35 and 36 arepivotally connected to the outer ends of the table 44 about a horizontally extending axis transverse to a diametrical line through the machine and such arms extend to the limits of the cylinder to be generated. A drum 37 of reinforcing rod or wire 38 is mounted up n the arm 35, the hub or axle 43 of the drum 37 being supported trom the'arm 35 in a conventional manner to facilitate drum rotation responsive to the unwinding of the wire or rod. A cage 42 at the outer end of the arm 35 supports an eyelet ,41 and eyelets 39 and 40 are mounted inwardly thereof on the arm 35. Such eyelets supporting guy ropes 49 and-'50 extend therefrom tone spective connection at 51 and 52 m the arms as and 36 respectively.

At the top of the post 25, as'shown in Fig. 5, a swivel V 54 having a shaft.55 .on.the lower end thereof is mounted to rotate in a ball bearing'assembly56 which'is pressed into a cup 57 threaded upon the top of the post 25. A milled slot 58 is provided within the swivel 54 with bores 59, as shown in Fig. 6, being provided through the side walls of the slots to receive the axle 60 of a pulley 53 mounted thereon, the pulley being conventionally spaced, and the axle being conventionally and adequately journalled, and located against axial displacement.

v A lift lug 61 is provided on the lift sleeve 45 spaced 90 from the pulley brackets 48, and such lift lug has connected thereto a line or rope 62, preferably wire cable, which extends upwardly and into the slot 58 and over the pulley 53 and downwardly therefromabout the'drum' of a winch 63 which is mounted on the table 44 adjacent the drive cylinder 31. A hydraulic motor 64 is also mounted on the table 44 and connected in conventional manner to rotate the winch 63.

A drivepinion 65 is supported below the table 44, or optionally below the arm 36, as the case may be, for rotation with relation to such table, and a drive belt 66, as a sprocket chain, makes driving connection between the gear 27 and the pinion 65. Below the arm 36, and

supported thereby, a reduction gear unit 67 is shown in Fig. 3 positioned to make driving connection to the pinion 65, and adjacent thereto a fluid motor 68 is located beneath the arm 36, or the table 44, asthe case may be,

, to make driving connection to the reduction gear unit 67. Whether the pinion 65, the reduction drive unit 67, or the motor 68, are carried by the table 44 or by the arm 36 7 with conventional arrangements of this type of equipment.

A fluid pump 69 is shown in Fig. 3 as carried by the arm' 36 and designates the source of power, which,

' through conventional hydraulic systems, drives the hydraulic motor 68 and also the hydraulic winch motor 64.

However, other sources of power may be employed such as an electric motor or a gasoline motor.

Above its main body .72 the swivel 54 is slightly turned down and threaded at 76 to receive thereon a roller bearsupport flange 77 which is recessed at its upper end to carry therein a seal 78, or a roller bearing assembly, as

the case may be, such support flange being counterbored inwardly. of the roller bearing assembly or seal to provide a clearance'space. Above the swivel body 72 the swivel 54-"has a reduced diameter upper end 79 to receive thereon the ball bearing assembly 80which' shoulders against the end face of the part 76, such ball bearing assembly being outwardly pressed into a recess '81 provided in the lower end of a guy cap 82. Such guy cap 82 -is bored and counterbored inwardly of the ball bearing assembly recess, the counterbore 83 providing the journal, for the upper end 79 of the swivel 54.

The upper end of the guy cap 82 is bored and countersunk to provide a stufling box 84 to receive therein the ,lower end of a hose connection gland'85, such lower end receiving the-swivelend 79 therein andcompressing the packing in the stuffing box 84. .The upper end of the I gland 85 isthreaded to receive a conventional hose con nection 86 thereon fromwhich a hose 87 extends :to a

pump 88, mounted outwardly'of-the form assembly 17- and adjacent a reservoir 89 containing concrete or gunnite (see Fig. l). e

, The swivel 54-.has an axial bore 90 through the upper end thereof which communicates at. its lower end with a diagonally and radially extending bore 91 soth'at'fluid canflow from the stationaryhose 8'7. through the r'otating is connected a hose 93 which extends to a support eyelet 94 at the end of the arm 36.

A platform operators seat'or station 95 is provided at the end of the arm 36 so that an operator may stand with his feet on a stand 96 supported at the very end of the arm 36, such stand having scraping blades 97 extending downwardly therefrom for a purpose to be hereinbelow described. The operator at the station 95 works controls 98 and 99 which control the motors 64 and 68 and in this manner he regulates the operation of the winch 63 in correlation with the driving of the pinion 65.- As the pinion 65 rotates in mesh with the sprocket chain 66 it drives itself around the stationary gear 27 and drives the bridge 34 therearound. As the bridge rotates, the operator directs the nozzle 100 of the hose 93 to deliver concrete or gunnite adjacent the form assembly 12 and the blades 97 scrape off the excess concrete or gunnite to maintain the inside of the cylinder to be generated at a uniform inner diameter. 7

As the bridge 34 rotates the winch 63 takes up the cable thereon so that the inner race of the bearing assembly 46 within the lift sleeve 45 lifts upwardly against the lift lugs 47 on the guide sleeve 32 and draws the guide sleeve 32 upwardly therewith, the guide sleeve 32 being keyed into the keyway 26 to prevent rotation, as by a key 28'. This also lifts the bridge 34 by virtue of theconnection between the guide sleeve 32 and the drive cylinder 31 as effected by the ball bearing assembly 30'. Also, since the drive cylinder31 is connected to the gear 27 by means of the ball bearingassembly 30 the gear 27 is also lifted as it maintains keyed contact with the post 25. In this manner lifting can be effected while concrete .or gunnite is poured from the nozzle 100 as the'bridge 34 rotates. At the same time reinforcing rod or wire 38 is payed out by an operator in the cage 42 at the other end of the bridge 34, such operator standing in the cage 42 and correcting the position of the wire with relation to the vertical reinforcing rods 20.

In order to support the post 25 and the elements assembledthereabove hooks 101 are threaded into the top flange 102 oftthe guy cap 82 and the upper ends of the guy wires 103 are connected into the hooks 101 while the lower ends thereof are connected to pegs 10 4 spaced outwardly of the form assembly 12 a sufficient distance to permit the guy wire 103 to clear the top of the form assembly 12. v

As the packing 84 wears adjustment can he made by tightening the take-up bolts 105 which pass through holes provided in the gland flange 106 and into tapped holes 107 in the top of the guy cap 82. In this manner there can be no leakage as the construction material in fluid form such as concrete'or gunnite is transferred from the stationary hose 87 through the rotating swivel. 54 and through the hose 93 extending therefrom to the nozzle 100 at the end of the rotating bridge 34. As the guy cap 82 is subject to exerting both horizontal and verticalcomponents of thrust it maybe necessary to provide both the a ball bearing assembly 80 and the roller bearing assembly 78 to minimize these thrust effects while at the same time permitting the swivel end 79 to rotate'freely within the In summarizing the relative rotation of the machine elements, the pinion 65v carried'by the bridge 34 connected to'thedrive cylinder 31, drives itself around the gear 27 and carries with it thebridge 34., As the lift' sleeve 45 is connected to the arms 35, 36 of the bridge 34, the lift sleeve must rotate therewith, which it does by virtue ofthe bearing assembly 46 interposed between it and the guide sleeve 32, the guide sleeve being keyed to the post 25, so 'that' consequently the lift sleeve-45 frotatesabout the guide sleeve.

The hose 93 which extends to the nozzle 100, "passes through theeyelet94 onithe arm 3,1. 'so that 93 v must rotate with the bridge 34, and the swivel 54 must therefore rotate with the hose 93. As the shaft 55 of the swivel 54 is journalled for rotation in the ball bearing assembly 56 at the top of the post 25, the'swivel can rotate with relation to the post. Also, since the upper end 79 of the swivel is journalled in the guy cap 82, and in the bearing assembly 80 therein, the swivel can also rotate in the guy cap 82 which the guy lines 103 hold non-rotatable.

As shown in Fig. 3, a vertically extending circular plate 108 is fixed to the stand 96 and carries the scraping blades 97. Such a plate would be required in the case of pouring conventional concrete, as a certain vertical contact would be required to define the inner diameter of the cylinder being generated until the concrete hardened suficiently. As shown, the plate 108 is not defined in extent and the bracing therefor is indicated more or less diagrammatically by the brace 109. However, it can be seen that in practice the plate may have to extend for a substantial arc aroundthe inner diameter of the cylinder to be generated, or it may extend all around the cylinder, depending upon the rate at which the concrete hardened; In any event, no problem would be posedas such plate could always be braced from the bridge 34 and guy lines extended thereto from the lift sleeve. 45. In these casestwhere the plate 108 is required, the scraper blades 97, which scrape off the inwardly extending parts of concrete, as the concrete hardens, would have to be lowered with relation to the plate 108 from an upwardly retracted position above the slab 15 at outset to the position shown in Fig. 3 as the generated cylinder is built up to a height permitting the blades 97 to be thus lowered. In this regard no special kind of lowering device is required and the lowering could be done manually or by any conventional means, not shown, as by some spring loaded arrangement which would serve the purpose.

When the material employed to generate the cylinder is gunnite, such as a substance comprised of say seven parts sifted sand and one part cement, the mixture being applied under pressure and in the presence of water, then the plate 108 is not required, but only the scraping blades 97 may be needed. This is due to the fact that the mixture is sprayed onto the form and onto the gunnite parts exteriorly of the nozzle pressures such as 2,000 pounds per square inch beingemployed. Under such pressure the gunnite adheres to the wall of the form, and thereafter to the gunnite outwardly of that being sprayed on, and a cylinder is generated after the spray on method, in the manner that some swimming pools are generated by present manual methods. In the case of employing gunnite with this invention, care has to be taken that there is escape space providedfor the gunnite particles that do not adhere when blasted on, and this can beaccomplished through the. spaces between the blades 97 when the blades are employedwithout the plate 108. In such case theblades would be carried. by the stand 96, at first in upwardly retracted position, and paid out as cylinder generation advances from outset. As described hereinabove, the method of payingout the blades downwardly may be by any-conventional method, as by a spring loaded device.

The disclosure shown can be varied in many details. For instance, the eyelets 39, 40, 41 may have bearing assemblies therein to facilitate the paying out of the reinforcing wire or cable 38.. Also, the wire drawn 37 may be mechanically rotated to abet the paying out of the rod.

In summary, the invention is not limited to the structural embodiment as disclosed in the drawings and described herein, nor to the precise method steps set forth, but other embodiments and combinations of structures are considered as well as such may fall within the broad spirit of the invention and within the broad scope of interpretation claimed and merited by the appended claims.

What is claimed'is: V 1. A cylinder generating machine comprising a fixed post, a keyway extending from the bottom upwardly to a point near the top thereof, a gear concentric around said post and keyed to said keyway, a drive cylinder concentric around said post, ball bearing means connecting said gear to mount said drive cylinder for'rotation thereon, a guide sleeve concentric around said post and keyed to said keyway, ball bearing means at the upper end of said drive cylinder connecting it to said guide sleeve for rotation therearound, a swivel rotatably mounted on top of said post coaxially therewith, a pulley'mounted in said swivel to rotate on a horizontal axis, -a guy cap mounted on said swivel in a manner that said swivel may rotate relative thereto, opposed guy wires extending from said guy cap to make supporting connection outwardly of said machine a stufling box in said guy cap around said swivel, a fiow passage down said swivel and out therefrom below said guy cap and above said pulley, a hose connection including a stufling gland to be installed on top of said guy cap to extend around said swivel in said stuffing box, a hose connected to said hoseconnection to deliver fluid construction material therethrough, opposed arms connected to said drive cylinder, a lift sleeve around said guide sleeve and making lifting connection there'- with, opposed guy wires extending from the top of said lift sleeve for connection to support the outer ends of said arms, a cable connected at one end to said lift sleeve and extending'over said pulley, a winch mounted on one of said arms adjacent said drive cylinder, said cable extend.ng from said pulley to said winch and being wound therearound and having its other end connected thereto, a hose extending from the lower end of said swivel flow passage to an end of said arm to deliver saidconstruction material, and said generator generating a cylinder as said hose lays a cylinder of said material in a spiral V to harden, said winch raising said lift sleeve and therewith said guide sleeve, said drive cylinder, said arms, and said gear, as said pinion rotation about said gear rotates said arms and said drive cylinder about said gear and said guide sleeve, and said arms draw said lift sleeve'to rotate therewith about said guide sleeve.

2; A reinforced hardenable construction material cylinder generating machine comprising a fixed post, a keyway extending from the bottom upwardly to a point near the top thereof, a gear concentric around said post and keyed to said keyway, a drive cylinder concentric around said post, ball bearing means connecting said gear to mount said drive cylinder for rotation thereon, a guide sleeve'concentric around said post and keyed to said keyway, ball bearing means at the upper end of said drive cylinder connecting it to said guide sleeve for rotation therearound, a swivel rotatably mounted on topof said post coaxially therewith, a pulley mounted in said swivel to rotate on a horizontal axis, a guy cap mounted on said swivel in a manner that said swivel may rotate relative thereto, opposed guy wires extending from said guy cap to make supporting connection. outwardly of said machine a stufiing box in said guy cap around "said from below said guy cap and above said pulley, a :hose

connection including a stufiing gland to be installed on top of said guy cap to extend around said swivel in said stufiing box, a hose connected to said hose connection to deliver fluid construction material therethrough, opposed arms connected to said drive cylinder, a lift sleeve around said guide sleeve and making lifting connection therewith, opposed guy wires extending from the top of said lift sleeve for connection to support the outer ends of said arms, a'cable connected at one end to said lift sleeve and extending over said pulley, a winch mounted on one of sad arms adjacent said drive cylinder, said cable extending from sad pulley to said winch and being wound a passage to an end of said arm to deliver said construction material, a drum of flexible reinforcing rod mounted on said otherarm and adapted to be paid out in a spiral from the end thereof, and said generator generating a cylinder as said hose lays a cylinder of said material in a spiral to-harden, said which raising said lift sleeve and therewith said guide sleeve, said drive cylinder, said arms, and said gear, asrsaid pinion rotation about said gear rotates said arms and said drive cylinder about said gear and said guide sleeve, and said arms draw said lift sleeve to rotatetherewith' about said guide sleeve.

1 3, A machine for generating a cylinder of a hardenable construction material comprising a vertical axle and abridge rotatable about said axle and vertically slidable with relation thereto and having means adapted to deliver the: cylinder forming material at one end thereof and means adapted to lay reinforcement means in the materialat the other end thereof, drive means carried bysaid bridge and cooperative with said axle to rotate said bridge therearound, a swivel mounted on top of said axle and about an axis which is co-axial extension thereof, a pulley carried by said swivel and rotatable about an axis transverse to the pulley axis and perpendicular to the axis of said bridge, a cable extending over said pulley and connected at one end to lift said bridge up said axle, a driven winch carried by said bridge and having the other end of the cable connected to the drum thereof ,whereby winch rotation winds said cable thereon t0,lift said bridge as said swivel rotates therewith, a

, packing, gland cap and a cylinder forming material hose connection mounted on said swivel and non-rotatable with relation thereto and having guys extending therefrom to guy, said machine from the top thereof and outwardly of the cylinder, to. .be generated, a flow passage from said hose 1connection through said cap and said swivel, and a second hose connection from said outlet to said one end as the means to deliver the cylinder forming material, whereby as said bridge rotates while it is lifted a spiral of construction material is placed in which a spiral of reinforcement means is deposited with the consequence that a cylinder of reinforced hardenable construction ma terial is generated,

4. A cylinder generating machine comprising a base support, a vertical axle supported therebyand a bridge mounted to rotate on said axle and slidable axiallyttherealong, a swivel mounted coaxially' on said axle and mounting apulley rotatable upon an axis perpendicular to said axle, atcable connected atfone end to lift said bridge and extending overxsaid pulley and connected at the other-tend to a driven winch drum carried by said bridge, a first hose connection non-rotatably mounted .on'saidswivel, a flow'passage extending from said hose connection through said 'swivelto antoutlet provided in said swivel, vand atsecondhose connection from said out let toone end of said bridge, means tot-force a fiowable construction material. through said first hose connection, said flow passage, and said second hose connection to deliver a spiral of said material within a cylindrical form withsaid'axle as its center as said bridge rotates, said bridge carrying means to deliverta spiral of reinforcement so .from the other end thereof to be deposited in said material whereby as said bridge is'lifted as it rotates a cylindercf; reinforced hardenablelconstruction material, is

generated, 7

i 5. A, cylinder generating machine comprising' a machine support positioned at the base center of the cylinder to be generated, a vertical axle upstanding from'said support as the vertical axis of the cylinder defining form, a bridgemounted to rotate within said form upon said axle and slidable axially therealong, a swivel mounted coaxially upon said axle and mounting a pulley rotatable upon an axis perpendicular to said axle, a cable'connected, at one end to lift said bridge and extending over said pulley and connected at the other end to, a driven winch drum carried by said bridge, a first hose connection'non-rotatably fmountedon said swivel, a flow passage extending from said first hose connection through said swivel to an outlet provided therefrom, a second hose connection extending from said outlet to an end of said bridge and in adjacency to said form, means" to force a hardenable, fiowable construction material through said first hose connection, said flow passage and said second hose connection, motor means positioned on said bridge to rotate therewith including means adapting said motor means to drive said winch and to rotate said bridge about said axle whereby as said bridge is lifted as it rotates a spiral of said material is delivered from said second hose connection upon said form to generate a cylinder to hardenwithin said form. V

6. A cylinder generating machine comprising a machine support positioned'at the base center of the cylinder to be'generated, a vertical axle upstanding from said supportas'the-vertical axis of the cylinder defining form, a bridge mounted to rotate within said form upon said axle and slidable axially therealong, a-swivel'mounted coaxially upon said axle, a'fir's't conduit non-rotatably mounted on said swivel,--a flow passage extending from said first conduit'through said swivel to an outlet provided therefrom, a second'conduit extending from said outlet to an end of said bridge and in adjacency to said form, means to force a 'hardenabl'e, flowable construction material through said first conduit, said fiow passage, and said secondconduitfmotor means positioned on-said bridge to rotate therewith, and means adapting said motor means to'lift said bridge up said axle and to rotate said bridge about said axle whereby as said bridge is lifted-as it rotates. aspiral of said material is delivered from said second conduit upon said, form to generate a cylinder to 

